Speaker: Jozsef Racsko - Mycorrhizal Applications, LLC, 710 NW E Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526 USA
Occurred 9:30-10:00 am PDT, June 9, 2022
Abstract
Leader growth control of the tree is one of the most important production technology elements in Christmas tree production. It greatly impacts tree size, shape and ultimately the value of the tree. In the past, mechanical leader control was practiced by manual shearing which effectively reduced leader height, but also removed most of the buds from the leader. Therefore, multiple chemical treatment options (e.g., NAA, ethephon, S-Abscisic acid) have been tested in the last decade. Among the treatments evaluated, S-Abscisic Acid, a naturally occurring plant growth regulator, appears to provide the most consistent results. This presentation gives a historical background on the development of S-Abscisic Acid for Christmas tree leader control, marketed under the brand name ConShape. The presenter will also discuss application techniques of the product and summarize efficacy data on various Christmas tree species from Europe and the US, where ConShape has been registered and successfully used for leader control.